Grizz's Redneck Express 1966 Chevy Short Fleetside RESTO-GO!

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by realvc

Well done on the MOT pass and all the work leading up to it.
I did not realize you bought this car for your own self just in case your job was not renewed. You had a good plan and were thinking a head. Well done on that as well.

Thanks Vince.

I guess part of it is knowing we need to survive, and I have no ego when it comes to wheels.

This car ducks a lot of the taxes levelled at us in this cowboy country where bare faced thieving is tolerated.




Of course being as it was bought to use when I lost my company car with the redundancy, and everything now back to “normal” it has become surplus to my requirements.

So it needs to go back into the market, ULEZ exemption should appeal to some as well.



And a flashback, held back initially.


https://youtu.be/7byzFRXrABs


Looks a lot better now.

Still a 21 year old with it’s fair share of damage and scruffiness.

Someone will hopefully find it useful.

[Braunschweiger]

Well done and looks great.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

Well done and looks great.

Thank you.

Happy with it.


Well.

Certainly was not part of the master plan.

I bought this to be able to get into and out of the London ULEZ ZONE for interviews and any potential jobs when I was made redundant.

ULEZ Zone is £300.00/month alone.

Of course I got re-employed, given a new title, small increase and got to keep my company car.

So now suddenly I have a surplus car, along with the S10 and soon (we hope) the Rezin Rockit, just too many wheels.

So I put it on the sidewalk this morning, incase a passerby sees and is interested in it.

Far from perfect, but beats riding a Halfords bicycle to work for some.







I feel somewhat guilty toward the car as I had some silly plans for it.

But it may be best to just sell it as it stands.

[Grizz1963]

More story when it happens.


https://youtu.be/KnBVCyN_bCA


.

[Grizz1963]

Mate Craig sent a pic this morning at 06.00 when he was about to leave after filling his tow vehicle.



Yesterday he ran 40 miles into Wales to collect this little “gift” and 210 miles coming down to me today, then 35 to load a bunch of industrial shelving, back here again…… followed by a Turkish dinner tonight and headed home early tomorrow morning.

That is a bit of a trip.

[Grizz1963]

Well……

Some friends do love to spend your money for you.

So when Serendipity smiled upon the planets and @craigrk sent me this Marketplace ad for another dubious item I coveted for a long time, while it lined up with the purchase of a load of serious industrial racking and shelving from “Deleted Profile”, plus collecting a load of American and bootfair stuff from my place, I had to take a look.

1994 Westwood 1012 - £100

The actual description read:

Westwood 1012 ride on mower/yard tractor 12.5hp Briggs and Stratton Engine £100


Photos as posted in the ad.

Yup, confidence inspired, so I said to Craig how far from his home, keeping in mind he is 205 miles from here.

Oh, not far, about half an hour, just into Wales.

Perfect.

BUY AND COLLECT IF YOU CAN PLEASE.

That was Tuesday morning..

Sellers reply to Craig: SORRY, SOLD, Collection this afternoon.

Boll0x












Craig was in London for work by this time, till Thursday evening.

Late afternoon he texted to say seller messaged to say “available again”

No, there are no alarm bells here….l move along.

So I repeated……. Yes please, buy and collect it.

Seller agreed to Craig collecting Friday night after work.


I was excited……. At least the odds of me getting something was better than winning the lottery.


So I patiently waited.


Yeaaahhh Right.

[Grizz1963]

So, while Craig made some major business decisions and transactions in the Big Smoke and ate meals worth a small African countries GDP and shared his views…..



I did my day job, got a great email from my agency (about money) and got inquisitive and impatient about this thing I was hoping to buy.

So I messaged Emma, the seller to ask for some better photos.

I was being hopeful here, and did not identify myself as the actual finacier…..

So promptly I got these……







Followed by these.







Much better than the ones in the ad, you will agree.

They confirmed to me mainly that it seemed intact, the body was in really good condition for a 28 year old tractor.

Also, very importantly, in fact most important, that it was a steel bodied tractor.

I have been offered very kindly before, a complete, running lawn tractor by a very good man, but declined because it was modern plastic bodied one.

In retrospect of course, one could make up some body, or add a Dodgem body over it with some supports.

I forwarded the pics to Craig, without explanation and he assumed that I had pulled them off the internet.

When I told him on Thursday that it was the actual tractor, he was pretty chuffed for me.

I had hoped that the small trailer I recently tidied up and put new tyres on, would fit it, but it is longer and wider, so I have popped it onto FB marketplace for a trade or for sale, in order to get something a bit bigger or ideally a flatbed chassis that will take the tractor and on decent sized wheels like the 14” this one has fitted. Behind the Rezin Rockit.

[Grizz1963]

Somewhat more daring than I am right now, but I love it.

https://youtu.be/g7qEdK_hpks

Looks like fun.

All on Wheel Horse tractors though, it seems.

[Braunschweiger]

Looks like everyone is having a great time.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

Looks like everyone is having a great time.

Fun….?

All relative ehhh.

[Grizz1963]

Got this pic from Craig on,Friday night when he was leaving Wales…..



Saturday morning at Stupid-0-Clockthis was happening.



In order to get this trip going.



By 9.30 Craig was here and we undid the tractor to get it off the trailer.



Maybe not so obvious, but a complete non runner, no key etc……

But I had to give it a go….

Size fit.




After the unload, without even a coffee, we headed out to “Deleted Profile” to go get this lot loaded.

The inside of the ML was also loaded to the roof.

Great seeing the man a few hours, and loading a load of extra sh!te he had put aside for my shop.

Shared between Craig and I later.

By 13.00 we were loaded and headed back to my place, via a service station to pump the trailer wheels.



Coffee and a pan full of fried sausages and fresh bread for a late lunch.

Followed by packing more sh!te into the ML.

Then down to the garage to play for a while.

[Grizz1963]

Back home from “Deleted Profile” we packed more stuff into Craigs ML, amd while he rearranged the load on his trailer, I cooked some sausages for lunch.

After which we put the HOPEMOBILE onto some ramps and axle stands.

Battery had changed and trying to start it failed.

Cowl hinge attachment points were partly missing, so just rested in place.



I also removed all the LED’s from the cowl.

Wiring and a switch box will be next, once I figure out how and what needs removing.

Craig had a quick nap……



Removing the flywheel and cooling fin cover as well as the starter motor cover exposed why, despite a screwdriver in the ignition, it would not start.





Having offered Sally, who was working from 6.00am on Sunday, and Craig dinner, we messed around briefly after seeing problem no 1 and then made a hard stop, closed shop and pushed the tractor under cover.



Dinner was very good, and the company great.



I had also moved Scruffy, the Micra up the alley till Craigs son collects it.



So a busy day, and good weekend all together.

[Grizz1963]

Busy weekend with yardwork and “Decorating”

Short video clip showing the tractor being abused by the previous owners brother.

So it certainly used to go…….

https://youtu.be/0TLZo8mXwWM

This week I was also given/offered another non runner…….

And a spare seat and some better wheels for the one I have.

Thank you to “Unknown Member” who can make himself known here, should he want to.

Needs to be fetched about three hours away.





So no tractor or garage time this weekend.

Weather still mild, but rain today, may lift later.

Yesterday I managed to fall out a tree, off the top of the ladder when it spun around a fixed pivot point.

Yes, I landed hard, only sprained my middle finger….. despite caution.

Accidents are so instantaneous to happen.

I skipped cutting this tree down last year and this year I wanted to cut it below the last pruning point.



Halfway, more to get done.



Thats a lot of branches to process and dispose of.

Anything more than a broomstick thickness will be put aside to dry for the fireplace next season.



Much better.



Will go up and tidy all the shoots that are sticking out everywhere.

Sally made me a white bread, bacon and two soft fried eggs sandwich today.

What a bonus.

[Grizz1963]

90% rain forecast for Sunday

Perfect weather for a 160 mile trip in the S10 to go load some “spares or repairs” stuff and a few tools from a friend, then driving back.

I had planned on hiring a van, then realised the load bed is long and wide enough, and that I already own a truck…… yes it can do the job, rather than sitting looking pretty on the driveway.

Then collect @craigrk ‘s son from Leatherhead to come pick up the Nissan Micra that will be headed down to Poole in Dorset

Really would love if it did not rain, at least while loading, but the dice are cast.

[Braunschweiger]

It's amazing things you always find. The Micra didn't stay with you long.

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

It's amazing things you always find. The Micra didn't stay with you long.

Hi Harald

Micra was bought as a cover for redundancy and because it skips the £14.00 per day 7/7 Ultra Low Emission Zone ULEZ is just another tax.

So selling as I have no need for it now I have still got my Ford Focus estate.

Free stuff……..

Yes I am a repository for stuff many people throw away.

Many items I just reroute to new homes.

[Grizz1963]

Winter prep job No 1 completed.

Used the hedge trimmer to mulch and cut up the branches that were left over after cutting out everything smaller than a broomstick to pack away to dry for next years fireplace wood.

All the chopped up stuff fitted in the wheely bin after I repeatedly jumped on it to compact further.



Leaving the pile of cut back branches all at around 5 foot or 1.5 meter long.

I then used thick string to tie them into 5 large bundles to put out on the sidewalk. Lets hope the recycling guys put them in the truck.



The amount of work it takes to harvest alm of this wood almost does not seem worth doing.
But it needs to be processed so I may as well do it right.



Filled the Chevy up last night for Sundays Mini roadtrip

Current mileage will slip over to 40k miles or 65k km on Sunday.

Really low I guess for a 21 year old pampered truck.



I also took out roadside recovery today.
Not something that I ever do.
But this truck is so under used, you never know when something does go bang.

I expect no trouble but neither did Kennedy

Should be a nice trip.

[Grizz1963]

Looking forward to the trip tomorrow

Rain forecast for the whole day, but it should all be fun.

Made up.a couple of ramps earlier, including a pair of stops against the tailgate side for when you shove the dead weight of the tractor up there.

Rather than have the ramps run away from me.



Tie down straps are also in the truck and some bits of padding.

I trust it is all good to go.

Off to dinner with friends first, and then hopefully to bead early for an early start.

[Grizz1963]

Headed out just before 06.00

Stopped for a darkness photo.



Then stopped for an expensive motorway coffee.



A fellow motorist pointed out that I have a lovely looking truck, and that my rear foglight was dangling out back.



Carried on driving until I got to this point.



Followed shortly by this……

40k miles.

Only driven it about 1700 miles in two years.

Bit of a waste ehhh?

Pulled over to capture these.



Shortly after the clock turned over I got to my destination.

Passing this landmark.



And then pulled up here……

Not far from the top secret Secret Volcano Lair.



Walking around while waiting for @frankenhealey to get there from where he was hiding in the mountains…….

Parked up and watched farmer Brown drive his tractor and trailer around.

Perfect way to be spending time before 09.00 0n a Sunday morning.

[Grizz1963]

Once @frankenhealey got to the Volcano Lair he brought out the donor and spares or repairs mower.





14 horse power V-Twin.

Missing it’s carburettor a battery and of course not running.

Measuring the cutting deck, it became instantly apparent that it was not going to fit between the wheel arches, 47 inchest do not fit into 37 inches.

So we had to remove it.





Once loaded up the ramps, I pulled it over to the one side, using the wheel arch as a chock for the rear wheel.

Along with 4 corners on the truck strapped to the tractor.



Followed by adding a roller, Suffolk Punch mower with proprietary Chinese 87cc engine,with centrifugal clutch.



Closed up the rear……

Soft, car like suspension shows the load.



Once the truck was packed, we headed to Frankenhealy’s home for coffee, a chat with Mrs F and of course I got to play fetch with the dog….. best part of my day.

Until @Frankenhealey disappeared out of the kitchen for a few minutes, returning with two packs of Mts F’s Amazing, home made Pork sausages.

Seriously humbled, as I always am by these very personal gifts.

A drive around with Frankenhealey followed by being dropped off back at the truck.

After which I headed out homeward in the rain, which had not stopped all,day, except very briefly exactly while we were loading.

First stop was at the service station to fill up the truck again.

The idea was to see what the truck used empty, bit with the bed covered, compared with the load and no aerodynamics.

Return trip report in a bit.


.

[Grizz1963]

After saying our good byes, I headed to the first gas station, having done 160 miles or 260km exactly, at the national speed limit, tonneau cover in place, unloaded, I was interested in seeing what consumption the 4.3 liter V6 would return.

Filled up to the neck as before leaving home.





Expensive fuel.

The return trip was nonstop rain, some idiots on the road, you know, the usual suspects.

Pulled off at J10 of the M25 to make a detour to pick up Kyle at his girlfriends house, then joined the M25 at J9 and carried on home.





The biggest bummer on the trip was the passenger wiper rubber (they were replaced before Christmas last year) disintegrated partially in the rain on the motorway, leaving a nasty gouge on the screen.
I did bend the tip up at one point when I was able to stop safely, but it was too late already.
I am not sure if I can have it repaired or buffed back professionally.
Any advice appreciated.



By 15.10 we stopped outside my place.



Safe load, and made back in one piece.

The truck was an absolute pleasure to drive, except for the bloody wiper blade.



After we got Kyle sorted, he headed off to find fuel, and then headed back to Bath by midnight, by way of his,girlfriend.

Reporting back that the Micra performed faultlessly.

Good news indeed.

I pulled the truck back into my back yard for the night.

Today I went to fill it again, to,the brim.

Same distance and almost the same consumption.

So,themload and lack of aerodynamics seem to make little differnce to its performance.

It certainly carried the load with absolute ease.



Am I happy with the truck and its performance?

Well, yes and no.

No, mainly because I just do not use it enough. Done less than 2000 miles in two years.

That is wasteful.

[Grizz1963]

Remember the tractor I just collected came without a carburettor and some bits….?



@pauly called me this morning.

From a Harley Davidson V-twin golf cart…….

Carburettor .

[Braunschweiger]

But it's nice to have, it's economical too, nothing wrong with that, annoying with the Windscreen. But lucky with the Carburetor, does it run with it?

[Grizz1963]

Originally Posted by Braunschweiger

But it's nice to have, it's economical too, nothing wrong with that, annoying with the Windscreen. But lucky with the Carburetor, does it run with it?

Evening Harald,

I agree, I love this little truck.

Size wise it fits English roads and car parks, though it is long.

And the economy at 22mpg in English gallons, or 8km/l is heavy compared to smaller, boring, city cars etc.

But I never bought it with any concern for fuel consumption, the least of my worries.

It puts a silly grin on my face.

Yes, windscreen will make me swear at myself for months, but you cannot stop on English motorways in that sort of weather.


The carburettor will need to travel the 60km from Pauls home to mine, possibly by mail, or some random delivery opportunity.

So cannot try it yet.

[Grizz1963]

Well……

As a follow on, on Sundays visit to @frankenhealey we had the pork sausages tonight.

Pork and Leek as you have never had it.

Supermarket sausages will always taste sh!t in future.

Thanks for the sausages mate, made the trip even more worthwhile.







Also had to Google a Harley Davidson Golf Buggy for myself.

And it seems they are real.

Also glad @craigrk ‘s boy Kyle picked up the mower deck in the Scruffy Micra to be fitted to his lawn tractor that is still a mower too.






That Nissan rocks for Sure.